Stagecoach gets on board with Catch The Bus Week

Stagecoach South East activities part of national Greener Journeys bus industry initiative

‘Catch the Bus Week’ to run from 29 June – 5 July

Stagecoach rated by passengers as best value bus operator in Britain

Stagecoach South East is joining forces with sustainable transport group Greener Journeys to promote the benefits of bus use through the third annual ‘Catch the Bus Week’.

The campaign, which takes place from 29 June – 5 July, aims to drive awareness of the benefits of taking the bus and encourage local people to make the switch from the car that week.
Stagecoach South East, along with Greener Journeys, which is spearheading the campaign, and hundreds of other participants all over the country – including bus companies, passenger organisations and local authorities – will be promoting the many benefits of bus travel through events, competitions and other activities.

During Catch the Bus Week 2015 Stagecoach, which offers the best value bus fares and has the highest customer satisfaction of any major UK Bus operator, will be holding town centre giveaway events in Kent and East Sussex as well as a ‘spot the green hand’ Twitter competition on @StagecoachSE, to promote and encourage bus use locally.

Bus passenger journeys make up over two thirds of all public transport usage and each year, bus commuters create more than £64 billion worth of goods and services. For many, the bus is a vital lifeline and an affordable and accessible form of transport, whilst for all it is a great and easy way to travel.

Travelling by bus can help reduce stress and can be good for your health – daily bus users clock up the annual equivalent of 11 marathons, with the short walk to and from the bus stop and destination burning 22,630 calories a year.

The bus is good for the economy and helps support local communities – bus users make 1.4 billion shopping trips and spend an estimated £27 billion on retail goods annually.

Buses bring people together and are vital for an inclusive society – 25% of all households have no access to a car. Buses allow everyone in society to remain connected to their loved ones and their local community.

It’s greener to get about by bus – congestion costs the UK economy at least £11 billion each year. If everyone switched just one car journey a month to bus that would be one billion fewer car journeys on our roads, and a saving of 2 million tonnes of CO2.

Stagecoach South East is carrying out a programme of promotional activities across the area to encourage people to give the bus a try. These will include:

Giveaways events at Canterbury Bus Station on Monday 29 June, Westwood Garage Thanet and Hastings Railway Station on Wednesday 1 July where passers by can take advantage of some freebies.

‘Spot the green hand’ competition where passengers will be challenged to look out for special posters on random buses throughout the week and tweet a photo of the ‘Spot Me’ poster to @StagecoachSE for a chance to win a prize.

Bus passengers recently voted Stagecoach as the best value major bus operator in Britain, according to independent research. Consumer watchdog Transport Focus found that customers across the UK rated Stagecoach higher than any other national bus operator on value for money in its latest UK Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey.

“We hope that Catch the Bus Week will really highlight the benefits of bus travel in terms of the positive impact it generates towards the environment and in society as a whole. It’s a great opportunity for those who are not regular bus users to change their commuting habits for a week or even permanently.”

Greener Journeys will be using the campaign to launch new and exciting research which demonstrates the social value of the bus to people and communities up and down the country.

Greener Journeys is working with Traveline during Catch the Bus Week 2015 to help people plan their bus journey, making it quick and easy to switch your regular car journey to the bus during the week. To find out how to get the most from buses locally and to plan your journey visit www.catchthebusweek.co.uk.

Claire Haigh, Chief Executive of Greener Journeys, comments:

“Buses are a vital lifeline for millions across the UK. From getting children to school, bringing people to work, the shops or to their local park, buses join up the dots in our society and our economy. This week provides a crucial springboard to bring these benefits to attention.

“I hope the hundreds of activities and events taking place across the country will prompt car drivers and infrequent bus users to give the bus a try. It’s also great that our politicians are showing their support for bus travel as an affordable and sustainable alternative to private transport.”